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Corbyn: I would never use nuclear weapons if I was PM Jeremy Corbyn: I would never use nuclear weapons if I were PM
(34 minutes later)
Jeremy Corbyn would instruct the defence chiefs never to use the Trident nuclear weapons system if he became prime minister in 2020, the new Labour leader has confirmed. Jeremy Corbyn would instruct the defence chiefs never to use the Trident nuclear weapons system if he became the prime minister in 2020, the new Labour leader has confirmed.
Corbyn made his statement on BBC Radio 4 Today interview in which he also said he had a mandate from his election to oppose the replacement of Trident and the use of nuclear weapons. Corbyn made his statement in a BBC Radio 4 Today interview in which he said he had a mandate from his election to oppose the replacement of Trident and the use of nuclear weapons.
It is likely Corbyn will come under pressure from those who will question why he would not even fire back at nuclear weapons being trained on the UK. He said: “I am opposed to the use of nuclear weapons. I am opposed to the holding of nuclear weapons. I want to see a nuclear-free world. I believe it is possible.”It is likely Corbyn will come under pressure from those who will question why he would not even fire back at nuclear weapons being trained on the UK. He said: “I am opposed to the use of nuclear weapons. I am opposed to the holding of nuclear weapons. I want to see a nuclear-free world. I believe it is possible.”
Asked if he would use nuclear weapons he said: “No.” Asked if he would use nuclear weapons he said: “No.” His remarks underscore his longstanding opposition to nuclear weapons, but put into perspective the long-term nature of the debate about whether the Commons should vote next year to replace Trident, a process that is not due to be completed until 2028.
His remarks underscore his longstanding opposition to nuclear weapons, but put into perspective the long-term nature of the debate about whether the Commons should vote next year to replace Trident, a process that is not due to be completed until 2028.
Corbyn said: “There are five declared nuclear weapon states in the world. There are three others that have nuclear weapons. That is eight countries out of 192; one hundred and eighty seven countries do not feel the need to have nuclear weapons to protect their security Why should those five need them to protect their security? We are not in the cold war any more.Corbyn said: “There are five declared nuclear weapon states in the world. There are three others that have nuclear weapons. That is eight countries out of 192; one hundred and eighty seven countries do not feel the need to have nuclear weapons to protect their security Why should those five need them to protect their security? We are not in the cold war any more.
“I don’t think we should be spending £100bn on renewing Trident. That is a quarter of our defence budget. There are many in the military that do not want Trident renewed because they see it as an obsolete thing thing they dont need. They would much rather see it spent on conventional weapons.”“I don’t think we should be spending £100bn on renewing Trident. That is a quarter of our defence budget. There are many in the military that do not want Trident renewed because they see it as an obsolete thing thing they dont need. They would much rather see it spent on conventional weapons.”
He said he was well aware of shadow cabinet members with opposing views on the issue. “I am very well aware of the views a large number of party members and supporters who were quite to prepared to vote for me knowing full well my views on nuclear weapons. It would be dishonest of me to say anything less than my honest view on it.” He said he was well aware of shadow cabinet members with opposing views on the issue: “I am very well aware of the views of a large number of party members and supporters who were quite to prepared to vote for me knowing full well my views on nuclear weapons. It would be dishonest of me to say anything less than my honest view on it.”
Corbyn in other broadcast interviews also did not rule out giving MPs a free vote on the possible air bombing of Syria, stressing such a vote was hypothetical. In other broadcast interviews, Corbyn did not rule out giving MPs a free vote on the possible air bombing of Syria, stressing that such a vote was hypothetical.
His close ally John McDonnell said in a Guardian fringe meeting on Tuesday night that efforts to reach consensus in the party were continuing but that MPs might end up having to “agree that we can’t agree”. His close ally John McDonnell said in a Guardian fringe meeting on Tuesday night that efforts to reach consensus in the party were continuing but MPs might end up having to “agree that we can’t agree”.
“When you are sending people to potential loss of life, I think it is a conscience decision. It is a moral decision,” McDonnell said. McDonnell said: “When you are sending people to potential loss of life, I think it is a conscience decision. It is a moral decision. On Syria, my view is it should be a free vote on the basis of conscience.”
“On Syria, my view is it should be a free vote on the basis of conscience.” Corbyn also defended his decision not to mention the deficit during his first conference speech as leader, saying he did not believe there was a way to cut Britain to prosperity.
Corbyn also defended his decision not to mention the deficit during his first conference speech as leader saying he did not believe there was a way to cut Britain to prosperity. He argued instead that it was better to grow to prosperity. He said Labour had not been clear enough at the last election and suggested that the 36% of people who did not vote were not persuaded enough by Labour’s offer or the clarity with which it opposed the deficit.
He argued instead it was better to grow to prosperity. He said Labour ahad not been clear enough at the last election, and suggested that the 36% of people who did not vote were not persuaded enough by Labour’s offer or the clarity with which it opposed the deficit. He refused to endorse remarks by the shadow home secretary, Andy Burnham, that Labour had not faced up to the unpopularity of the free movement of workers inside the European Union and this was one cause of the popularity of Ukip.
He also refused to endorse remarks by the shadow home secretary, Andy Burnham, that Labour had not faced up to the unpopularity of the free movement of workers inside the European Union and this was one cause of the popularity of Ukip. He said instead that services needed to be improved in areas of high immigration. “People who have migrated to this country over many years have made an enormous contribution to our society, helped our economic growth, helped our health service and helped our social services, so I don’t necessarily look on immigration as a problem. It is often a very great opportunity.”
He said instead services needed to be improved in areas of high immigration. Corbyn said it was better to look at the net figures for immigration, rather than the growth figures, and said the inclusion of student numbers gave a misleading figure.
“People who have migrated to this country over many years have made an enormous contribution to our society helped our economic growth, helped our health service and helped our social services so I don’t necessarily look on immigration as a problem. It is often a very great opportunity.” Asked about the presentational aspects of his speech, he said he thought he had looked smart, and denied that he had borrowed large philosophical chunks from extracts sent to him by Richard Heller, a former adviser to Denis Healey, that had been rejected by other party leaders.
He added it was better to look at the net figures for immigration, rather than the growth figures, adding that the inclusion of student numbers gave a misleading figure. Corbyn said: “We were sent some information and ideas by a number of people in preparing this speech.”
Asked about the presentational aspects of his speech he said he thought he had looked smart, and denied he had borrowed large philosophical chunks from extracts sent to him by Richard Heller, a former adviser to Denis Healey that had been rejected by other party leaders. He explained that the speech was more than 5,000 words long and 350 words were provided by a friend. “I like the way he put them forward. I like the words he used so I used them in my speech. What’s so bad about that?
He said: “We were sent some information and ideas by a number of people in preparing this speech. “I quoted poets, I quoted Ben Okri, I quoted Maya Angelou. I referred to the works of Keir Hardie. I tried to make a speech about policies and philosophy and a message about the way in which politics should be conducted in this country. Not everyone will like the speech: you cannot please all the people all the time.”
He explained the speech was over 5,000 words long and 350 words were provided by a friend. “I like the way he put them forward. I like the words he used so I used them in my speech. What’s so bad about that?
“I quoted poets, I quoted Ben Okri, I quoted Maya Angelou. I referred to the works of Keir Hardie. I tried to make a speech about poliicies sand philosophy and a message about the way in which politics should be conducted in this country. Not everyone will like the speech: you cannot please all the people all the time.”